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Classic Pecan Pie

Finished slice of pecan pie served beside a cup of coffee

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5 from 2 reviews

Classic pecan pie features a rich brown sugar filling packed with toasted pecan flavor in a flaky crust, making it a dependable holiday dessert.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Instructions

  1. Prepare and chill the crust Heat the oven to 350°F. Fit the dough into a 9-inch pie plate without stretching it, trim and crimp the edge, then refrigerate the crust while you make the filling. 
  2. Mix the filling gently Whisk the corn syrup, lightly beaten eggs, brown sugar, melted and slightly cooled butter, vanilla, and salt just until smooth. Stir in the coarsely chopped pecans; stop once they are evenly distributed. 
  3. Fill the unbaked shell Pour the filling into the chilled, unbaked crust. Spread the pecans evenly across the surface if needed; there is no need to arrange a decorative layer of extra nuts. 
  4. Bake and watch the edges Bake at 350°F for 35–45 minutes, until the filling is set at the edges and the center has only a slight jiggle. Check the crust around 20 minutes and shield browned edges with foil or a pie shield; loosely tent the whole pie if the top browns too quickly. 
  5. Cool before slicing Transfer the pie to a wire rack and allow about 2 hours for cooling before slicing. Refrigerate within 2 hours of baking; if it still needs time to finish setting, continue cooling in the refrigerator. Serve slices at room temperature or slightly warm after the pie has set. 
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Equipment

Notes

Substitutions: Dark corn syrup may replace light for deeper flavor. Walnuts may replace some or all pecans, with a different flavor and texture. If using salted butter, reduce or omit added salt. Homemade or refrigerated unbaked crust works.

Serving: Serve plain or with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or lightly sweetened crème fraîche. Coffee and hot tea pair well.

Storage: Refrigerate within 2 hours of baking; cover and keep at 40°F or below for 3–4 days. Briefly bring individual slices closer to room temperature before serving.

Freezing: Wrap the cooled pie or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 2 months, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and let slices lose their chill briefly before serving.